The next day, Zik was feeling lighter than he had in a long time. Helping Leo had given him a new sense of what being a hero really meant, and he carried that feeling with him as he moved through his morning classes. But during the break, a familiar voice pulled him back to reality.
He was passing by the lockers when he heard Mark's loud, mocking tone. Mark was leaning against the lockers, surrounded by a few classmates, casually tearing someone down.
"Yeah, Leo's always acting like he's some kind of hero. All that hard work, the serious look. What's he trying to prove?" Mark scoffed, crossing his arms. "I mean, it's like he's putting on a whole act. Everyone knows he can't keep up."
Zik stopped, gritting his teeth as he listened. Leo didn't act like he was better than anyone; he was just doing what he had to do. He remembered seeing Leo's worn-out parents, his quiet determination as he juggled jobs and training. Leo didn't deserve this — he was one of the strongest people Zik knew, even if he wasn't the loudest or the flashiest. And hearing Mark talk like this felt wrong.
He took a steady breath, remembering the Seventh Hero Code: Don't Backbite. Backbiting wasn't just gossip; it was a way of tearing someone down when they weren't there to defend themselves, a poison that spread quietly but deeply. And Mark was feeding that poison to everyone around him.
Zik stepped forward, catching Mark's attention. "Hey, maybe you don't know what Leo's dealing with," he said, keeping his tone even. "Not everyone has it easy, and he's doing what he can. That doesn't make him a fake."
Mark looked at him, surprised but unfazed. "Oh, so now you're Leo's defender? What, he can't speak for himself?"
"No," Zik replied calmly, "but I can speak up when someone's being dragged down behind their back. We're here to train, not to turn on each other."
A couple of Mark's friends exchanged uncertain glances. One of them muttered, "Yeah… I mean, maybe we don't know everything."
Mark shrugged, brushing it off with a dismissive wave before walking away, though his confidence seemed to falter just a bit. His friends slowly dispersed, looking a little less sure of themselves.
As the hallway emptied, Zik felt a quiet sense of relief. He hadn't been confrontational or self-righteous, just honest. It wasn't about showing anyone up — it was about respecting someone who was working hard for the right reasons.
Walking back to class, he realized that being a hero wasn't always about power or strength. Sometimes it was just about speaking up when it mattered. And today, he'd taken another small step toward being the kind of hero he wanted to be.
As Zik settled into his seat, he noticed one of the guys who'd been with Mark in the hallway sitting down next to him. Zik hadn't expected any of them to pay him much attention, especially after he'd called them out for the way they'd talked about Leo.
The guy gave him a small nod. "That was kind of cool, what you did back there with Mark. I'm Aiden, by the way."
"Zik," he replied, a little surprised but glad to see a friendly face. Aiden looked like he wanted to say more, so Zik stayed quiet, waiting.
"Honestly, it's not often you see someone stand up to Mark," Aiden continued. "He's… well, a lot. Anyway, I think it's cool that you said something."
Zik shrugged, not sure what to say. "Mark just didn't seem to know what he was talking about. Figured someone should say something."
Aiden gave a short laugh. "True. People act like they know everyone else's business." He paused, as if searching for something else to say, then his face lit up. "Hey, do you follow Peak? Number one hero?"
Zik's eyes brightened. "Peak? Are you kidding? He's the reason I even started training. His abilities, his style… Everything about him is on another level."
Aiden grinned. "Same here! I've watched all his battles at least twice. The way he moves, his instincts — it's like he's always ten steps ahead. I'd give anything to meet him, honestly."
Zik nodded enthusiastically. "Peak's a legend. It's not just his power; it's the way he uses his abilities so precisely. I've been trying to figure out how he combines his speed and reflexes to be everywhere at once. It's insane."
"Right?" Aiden leaned in, his excitement growing. "And he's got that reputation, like he's untouchable but still stays grounded. You don't see him talking down to anyone. He just goes in, gets the job done, and doesn't make a big show of it."
Zik thought about it, nodding. "That's true. Peak's got this respect for everyone, even his opponents. It's like he's mastered not just being powerful but being… I don't know, just good. That's real hero stuff."
They spent the rest of the break swapping stories and trivia about Peak — his most famous battles, his toughest moments, and even the times he'd turned impossible situations around with strategies no one saw coming. Zik shared a theory he'd been working on about Peak's signature move, while Aiden described a technique he'd tried to learn just from watching Peak's training videos.
By the time the bell rang, they both realized they were still mid-conversation, too caught up to let it end.
"Hey," Aiden said, hesitating but clearly eager. "You wanna train sometime? Maybe we can figure out some of Peak's moves ourselves."
Zik felt a grin spread across his face. "Yeah, I'd like that. Let's see how close we can get to the legend."
As Aiden headed to his next class, Zik's Hero System pinged with a new notification:
> Quest Complete: Make a Friend
Reward: +20 EXP, Social Skills Boost
Zik barely noticed the quest's completion. He'd gotten so used to focusing on leveling up that he hadn't even realized how much he'd needed something else — someone who shared his passion, his goals, and the same drive to improve. Aiden wasn't just another student anymore; he was a friend, someone he could count on, train with, and learn from.
And as Zik headed to class, he realized that sometimes the most important part of becoming a hero wasn't the powers, the skills, or even the codes. It was finding people who understood what drove him forward, people who made him feel like he wasn't alone on the journey.
The next day, Zik and Aiden met up early at the training grounds, both eager to try out one of Peak's signature moves: the Spinning Back Kick, enhanced with super speed. They'd both seen Peak use it in several fights, combining power, precision, and speed in a way that left his opponents on the ground before they even knew what hit them.
"Alright," Aiden said, stretching his legs as he glanced over at Zik. "Peak makes this move look so easy. The trick is using the momentum to get the force right, but with super speed boosting it. You've gotta be fast and stable."
Zik nodded, his excitement bubbling over. "Yeah, it's about keeping the balance. If you overdo the speed, you'll end up off-center, and the kick loses impact. But if we can nail it, we'll be golden."
Aiden went first, stepping forward with focus. His Super Speed kicked in as he spun around, and though his kick was quick, he stumbled a bit as he tried to land. "Ugh," he muttered, regaining his balance. "This is tougher than it looks."
Watching him, Zik activated his Hero System, letting it guide him through the technique step-by-step, analyzing each movement as he ran through the details in his mind. He positioned himself, steadied his stance, and channeled his own Super Speed as he spun, letting the momentum build just like Peak did. In one smooth motion, he kicked out with controlled power, landing perfectly balanced.
Aiden's eyes widened as he watched. "Wait… how did you just pull that off on your first try?"
Zik grinned, a little surprised himself. "I don't know, man. I just… felt it, I guess."
Aiden shook his head, laughing in disbelief. "I don't get it. You just learned this, but you did it like you've practiced a thousand times. I've been working on these techniques for ages!" He tilted his head, sizing Zik up. "You've got some serious talent, Zik."
Zik scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit sheepish. "Honestly, I think it's the Hero System. It's kind of like a guide that helps me analyze moves faster." He could see the curiosity in Aiden's expression and added, "It's not like it's doing the work for me. I still have to practice. It just… speeds up the learning curve."
Aiden nodded thoughtfully, but a small part of him seemed to wonder why he hadn't mastered it as quickly, even with his own powerful abilities. His Super Speed was at a solid B grade, Level 20 — a level of mastery most people took years to reach. As far as he knew, the level of a skill reflected how well someone had trained with it, which explained why he'd assumed his own mastery was greater than Zik's.
"I guess I just figured… since my Super Speed is Level 20, I'd pick it up quicker," Aiden said, his voice trailing off. He looked at Zik. "What level is your Super Speed, anyway?"
Zik glanced at him, honest and unguarded. "It's Level 4," he said, smiling a little. "And only Grade D."
Aiden's eyes widened. "No way. You're at Level 4? That low, and you can pull off a move like that?" He stared at Zik, his disbelief giving way to a newfound respect. "Man, you're full of surprises. That Hero System of yours must be incredible."
Zik shrugged, smiling as he met Aiden's gaze. "Honestly, I think I'm just lucky to have it. But it's still all about putting in the work."
They spent the rest of the morning practicing the move together, Zik guiding Aiden through the steps as they adjusted each other's stances, shared tips, and tried to capture that balance of speed and precision that made the Spinning Back Kick so effective. By the time they were done, both of them were sweating, laughing, and, more importantly, getting the hang of the move.
As they packed up to leave, Aiden clapped Zik on the shoulder. "Alright, next time, you're teaching me more of Peak's moves. You've got some kind of magic touch with this stuff."
Zik laughed, shaking his head. "You're on. Let's see how many we can nail."
As Zik and Aiden continued practicing, something clicked. He could feel his body moving more naturally with each attempt, the kick flowing smoother, faster, and with more precision. His Hero System chimed softly, and a notification appeared in his field of vision:
> New Skill Unlocked: Spinning Speed Kick
Level 1: A powerful spinning back kick enhanced by super speed. Combines rotational force and speed to deliver maximum impact.
Zik grinned as he read the notification, feeling the energy of the new skill settle into his muscles like second nature. He tried it again, this time allowing the Hero System's guidance to refine each movement. The kick felt effortless, faster and stronger than before. He landed with perfect balance, feeling a surge of pride and satisfaction.
Aiden, who had been watching, raised an eyebrow, looking both impressed and a bit confused. "Did you just… level that up already? How are you doing this so quickly?"
Zik shrugged, still grinning. "Looks like I got a little help from the Hero System again. It unlocked the move as a skill this time. Guess that means I get to keep working on it until it levels up."
Aiden laughed, shaking his head in amazement. "Lucky. You're like a training machine. I'm still trying to get the basics down, and you're already unlocking skills."
Zik felt a sense of accomplishment, but he didn't want to leave Aiden behind. "Hey, we'll keep working on it together. Skills come with practice, and I'm here to help however I can."
Aiden smiled, grateful. "Yeah, alright. But don't get too comfortable — I'm catching up, even if you've got that system of yours."
They spent the rest of the morning refining the Spinning Speed Kick, each trying to master Peak's technique, pushing each other to go faster, aim better, and balance more precisely. With his new skill, Zik could feel the potential growing, the kick becoming a reliable move he could add to his arsenal.
By the end of the session, he realized something: with the right drive and the right people beside him, every skill he gained felt more meaningful. Aiden wasn't just a partner in training — he was someone pushing him to become the hero he wanted to be. And with each new skill, Zik felt that goal coming closer.
And as they walked away together, Zik realized that the friendship he was building with Aiden wasn't about ability levels or ranks. It was about supporting each other, learning together, and pushing each other forward.